Printing-press.



No. 656,|42. Patented Aug; I4, |4900.

J. D. LASSWELL.

PRINTING PRESS.

(Application led Jan. 13, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l,

(N0 Model.)

INVENTOR` WITNESSES:

f mmslLLmaS.. f/U//lq M m m BY ORNEYS mr. Nonms versus cc. H010- PRINTING PRESS.

(Application led Jan. 13, 1900..)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(No Model.)

L je l .b F L 3 @-171 waff INVENTOFL` WITNESSES: MW@

ATTORNEYS Mmm nl; uname. Pmsus co.4 Horam-rm.. WASHINGTON, u4 c ark, in the county of EsseX and State of New Nrrnp TATES iA'rnNT JESSE D. LASSVELL, OF NEVVARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LOUIS HANNOCH, 0F- SAME PLACE.

PRINTING-PRESS.

SPECEFCATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 656,142, dated August 14, 1900.

Application filed January 13, 1900. Serial No. 1,314. (No model) To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jnssn D. LAsswELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at New- Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing-Presses; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The objects of this invention are to provide a printing-press more particularly for use in printing country newspapers or papers having small circulation, which hasV a greater capacity for a quick throwing off of imprints or impressions by hand-power; to secure a more uniform and perfect imprint or impression; to provide a more perfect inking of the Type, and generally to facilitate and improve the printing of such papers by hand-power, and to secure other advantages and results, some of which may be referred to hereinafter in connection with the description of the working parts.

The invention consists in the improved printing-press and in the arrangements and combinations of parts of the same, all substantially as will be hereinafter set fo'rth and finally embraced in the clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding partsin each of the several views, Figure lis a plan of myimproved printing-press. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Figs. 3 and 5 are detail plans,on an enlarged scale, showing the construction of certain brackets attached to the bed-frame of the press and providing mechanisms or operating means for raising and lowering the cylinder from and to the bed of type. Fig. 4 is a section taken through line a; of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail side elevation of the means for elevating and lowering the cylinder. Fig. 7 is a section taken on line y of Fig. 6,and Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a plan and end view of the same said parts. Fig. 10 is a detail view of one of the brackets above referred to viewed from the under side.

' and forth reciprocally over the frame. At the outer sides of the upper portion of the frame and directly beneath the racks b b the said frame is provided with carriage-ways ff, between the flanges f f of which are arranged the wheels or rollers g of cylinder-carriages h, the said carriages moving with the cylinder at its opposite ends backward and forward 7o on the said ways, the cylinder and carriages being held i-n operative relation by the flanges,

as wili be understood upon reference to Figs.

6 and 9. At lthe opposite ends of the said cylinder the same is provided with axial eX- tensions fi', on which are handles o', by means of which the said cylinder may be pulled and pushed by hand backward and forward upon the frame to effect the desired inking and printing operations. Between the handles i 8o of the said axial extensions il' and the ends of the cylinder the said axial extensions are provided with bearings i? for lever-armsj, as shownmore clearly in Fig. 2, where the said lever-arms j are shown to be fulcrumed at 7.", upon the frame c at its lower parts and at their upper ends being slotted, as at Z, to receive the end bearings 722 of the said cylinder.

At a point between the slots of the levers j and the fulcrums 7e the said arms j are con- 9o nected by a rod or shaft rm, and the latter at a point about midway between the said leverarms is provided with a crankshaft n, connecting with a large driving-wheel o. Said driving-wheel is preferably a cog-wheel, the teeth of which intermesh with a cogged pinion p, arranged on a shaft q, with a crankwheel r. The said crank-wheel r may serve as a iiy-wheel when the shaft q is driven by a belt and pulley; but when the press is op- Ico erated by hand-power and the belt and pulley are dispensed with the said wheel r may then be provided with a hand-crank s, by means ot which the operator may conveniently and easily turn the wheel r, and thus transmit power and slow movement through the pinion p, cog-wheel c, and connecting-rod n to the shaft or rod m and lever-armsj, thus oscillating said lever-arms on their fulcrums 7a and causing the upper free ends of said arms to reciprocate backward and forward, and thus throw the cylinder backward and forward also on the runway-racks I) l) of the frame, the said racks in connection with the cog-wheels on the opposite ends of the cylinder giving a positive movement to the cylinder, preventing any slipping of said cylinder, and the slotted levers working in connection with the connecting-rod n and driving-wheel o giving to said cylinder limited reciprocal movements, whereby the said cylinder and the connections traveling therewith will have only the distance ef movement necessary for inking and' printing, and lost motion will bc obviated.

3y the construction described the machine can not only be operated by power applied at the power-wheel r, but in addition thereto I am enabled to reciprocate the cylinder on the frame by hand-power applied directly to the cylinder at the handles t, whereby while securing the desired positive and regular movemeut I can attain continuously a much-higher speed by hand than it the hand-power were applied to the wheel r. Thus in operating this portion of the device men m'ay be stationed on opposite sides of the machine and grasping the handles c' at the axial centers of the cylinder may push said cylinder backward and forward over the frame at a comparatively-rapid rate of movement, the movements being limited and controlled, as heretofore described, by the connections aj o p r, which in this case serve also to regulate the movements, and the wheel r, particularly as a ily-wheel, for securing the desired regularity; but it will be understood when thus operated the fly-wheel r rotates at a much-higher rate than can be obtained continuously for any material length of time by hand were the hand-power applied to the crank s. Thus the workmen in quickly reciprocating the cylinder on its bed or frame simply expend their effort in moving said cylinder by pressure on the handle first in one direction and then in the reverse direction, and there is no loss of elfort such as is common in proof-presses where the operator is compelled by his own exertion or because of a very slow initial movement to bring the cylinder to a full stop before reversing.

In my device the power exerted upon the handles 'is transmitted to and stored in the governing and regulating connections and expended in the initial parts of the return movements, all of which is conducive to great facility and uniformity of hand-printing, as will be understood.

To lower the cylinder to bring the paper thereon in contact with the type at the beginning of its operative horizontal stroke and to raise the said cylinder away from the bed of type at the opposite end of its said horizontal stroke preliminary to return movement of said cylinder, I have provided the said cylinder with means for automatically raising the same from the bed of type at one end of its horizontal stroke or rcciprocation and lowering it into contact or operative relation to the bed of type at the opposite end. These means I will now describe. Upon the carriages h, at points about midway between the wheels or rollers q g thereof, are arranged studs or supportingstandards k2. These are preferably arranged upon the carriages, as shown more clearly in Figs. 6, 7, and 9, where the said studs or standards are shown to be provided with shoulders 7c', bearing upon the said carriages, and the lower ends ot' said studs or standards entering through perforations in the carriages and being provided at their lower ends with screwthreads adapted to receive fastening-nuts Z, whereby the studs or standards 7a2 are firmly and securely fastened upon the carriages in upright pivotal position. At their upper ends the said studs or standards are provided with quick-screw threads m, adapted to engage corresponding screw-threads in the journal boxes or bearings n of the cylinder c, the said quick-screw threads serving to raise or lower the said cylinder a quarter of an inch, more or less, from or toward the bed of type when the said studs or standards are turned a quarter or third of a complete rotation, more or less, on their longitudinal axes.

Between the quick-screw threads and the shoulders it', serving as bearings for the studs or standards, the latter are provided with bent arms u, adapted to engage and be turned by suitable stud-turning devices disposed upon the bed-frame at or near the opposite ends thereof or in suitable position to effect the desired operations. Said standards or stud-turning devices comprise in the preferred construction brackets or pieces yc, applied to the outer sides of the frame a, in line or approximately in line with the paths of movement of the said studs or standards k2 with their carriages, so as to engage with the bent arms u, projecting therefrom. The said brackets or pieces c provide guide-apertures w, Fig. 10, adapted to receive the upwardlybent outeror free extremities of the said arms. Said apertures 1c at their ends are open, as at w', to receive the arms u as they move with the cylinder toward the end of the stroke preliminary to reversal of movement. Said apertures are of su fiicient width to receive wedge-shaped switching-guides cu2, the small ends of which are turned toward the opening w in said apertures,throu gh which the bent arms enter. Said switching-guides tu* are pivoted at theirlarger ends and are normally held at their smaller ends against the straight side walls wgof the apertures by means of springs 104, Figs. 3 and IOO IOC

5. As the bent arms u enter said apertures the upwardly-turned ends u engage the small ends of the wedge-shaped guides and are turned slightly thereby, so that the parts of said arms uextending out from the standards or studs are brought by said guidesrst to lie in positions parallel with the vertical plane in'which the axes of the cylinder and the said standards lie. After assuming these positions the said arms leave or disengage the wedge-shaped guides and enter into contact with the curved side walls 105, Fig. 10, of

the apertures, and the turning of the arms is continued, so that they assume positions at right angles to said vertical planes. NVhen these positions are thus assumed, the cylinder and its attachments will have arrived at the end of their stroke and immediately commence a return stroke, and in doing so the bent free extremities u' of the arms u enter behind the Wedge-shaped guides wg, between the same and the straight walls w3 of the apertures, and finally pass out of engagement with the brackets, the arms and the posts or standards connected therewith thus being given a quarter or a third of a turn, more or less, whereby the quick-screws at the upper ends of the studs or standards k2 cause the boxes or bearings of the cylinder to raise or lower, and with them the cylinder, as will be understood. Thus the arms u, with their standards,are oscillated reciprocally to secure reverse vertical movements of the cylinder, whereby said cylinder travels horizontally in a high plane free of the type in one direction and in the reverse direction moves in a low plane in printing relation to the type, the said cylinder being raised at one end and lowered at the other end of its reciprocal strokes. 'Ihe construction for turning the screwthreaded standards in one direction and raising the cylinder automatically at one end of its rearward stroke are substantially as those for turning the screw-threaded post in the opposite direction at the other end of the reciprocal stroke and lowering said cylinder.

To avoid any contact of the arms of the studs or standards with the springs controlling the movements of the wedge-shaped guides, I prefer to provide the said wedgeshaped guides with pins 107, Figs. 3 and 5, which work in short slots w of the brackets, the saidpins passing through said slots and receiving the springs at the upper sides of the brackets opposite the sides having the apertures, the said springs being fastened upon said brackets in any suitable manner. In connection with the carriages 7L of the cylinder I have provided an inking-roll carriage 4, which travels back and forth with the cylinder in the ordinary manner. I may employ an ordinary front stop 10 for the paper-sheet and a cam 1l, Fig. 2, for operating the same; but I do not consider said front stop and cam essentials of my invention. I have also provided the usual means for holding the paper upon the cylinder, the

usual means for applying or feeding the paper to the cylinder, and for delivering the paper from the cylinder after the same has been printed. I have also provided the ordinary means for holding the bed of type in place upon the frame and for adjusting said bed and for distributing the ink thereover; but these devices are notnew in themselves, and it is deemed unnecessary to more fully show or describe the same.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new isl. In a printing-press,the combination with a bed or frame, a reciprocating cylinder adapted to travel back and forth upon said bed, and bearings or boxes at opposite ends of said cylinder and having screw-threads, of a cylinder-carriage having threaded supporting-studs for said boxes or bearings, and having bent arms extending out therefrom and adapted to engage at the opposite ends of the reciprocal strokes of the cylinder, and means arranged upon the frame to engage the said arms and effect a turning thereof 'with the stud to raise or lower the cylinder,

substantially as set forth.

2. In a printing-press,the combination with the bed or frame, of a cylinder-carriage having screw-threaded studs, with arms extending radially outward and upward therefrom, boxes or bearings arranged on the threaded ends of said studs, a handled cylinder arranged in said boxes, means controlling the,

reciprocal movements of the cylinder when moved by the hands back and forth, and means disposed on the bed or frame at the ends of the stroke of said cylinder for automatically raising and lowering the cylinder by turning the screw-studs, whereby the operator pushing back and forth on the handles will be relieved of care in directing either the vertical or reciprocal movements, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in a printing-press, of a frame having longitudinal racks and carriageways, brackets disposed at opposite sides of said frame at the opposite ends of said racks and carriage-ways, carriages arranged upon said carriage-ways and provided with screw-threaded supporting studs or standards, boxes or journaled bearings having corresponding screw-threads arranged upon said threaded supports or standards, and cylinders disposed in said journaled bearings or boxes and adapted to rotate in said journaled bearings, and to move reciprocally with said carriages upon the frame, the said studs or standards having arms projecting therefrom, and adapted to engage guides adapted to turn said -arms and said threaded studs or standards, said guides being disposed at the opposite ends of the path of reciprocations of the cylinder and adapted to give to the said arms projecting from the studs or standards a turn whereby the journaled bearings of the cylinder are raised and lowered,

substantially as set forth.

IOO

IIO

ai.. In combination with the bed-frame ofa printing-press and a rotary cylinder rolling reciprocally thereover, the journal-bearings of said cylinder being supported on threaded studs having bent arms by the turning of which the said journal-bearings are adapted to be raised or lowered with relation to the frame to raise or lower the cylinder in its rclation to the type on said frame, and means disposed at opposite ends of the path of reciprocation of the cylinder to engage the journal-supports and operate the same to effecta raising and lowering of the cylinder alternately as the cylinder is forced to roll backward and forward, said means comprising pivoted wedges arranged in guide-apertures of brackets or pieces of the frame, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination in a printing-press having a rack, of a cylinder having cog-wheels at its opposite ends and at the outer sides of said wheels, at the axial center of the cylinder, having handles whereby the workman can pull or push the cylinder so that said wheels will roll over the rack, said cylinder being connected with slotted levers 3,7', and wheel r, in which the hand-power is stored, and means including said slotted levers j, j, the wheel r, and connections thereof for storing the hand-powerand limiting the distances of reciprocal movement due to the impulse derived from the hands, substantially as set forth.

6. Thcilnproved printing-press in which is combined a bed having a rack and at opposite ends having apertured guidebrackets and wedges adapted to turn the cylinder studarms, of slotted levers j, j, a handled cylinder having cog-wheels at opposite ends arranged on said racks, a fly-wheel r, and a train of cog-wheels and connections of said slotted lever and ily-wheel, threaded boxes and studs for said cylinder, supported on carriages, said carriages, arms extending out from the threaded studs and adapted to enter the apertures of the guide-brackets and be turned thereby, said apertures containing pivoted wedges, whereby the cylinder will be raised or lowered at the end of the stroke, and springs for said wedges, all said parts being arranged and operating, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination in a printing-press having a rack, of a cylinder having cog-Wheels at its opposite ends, and at the outer sides of said cog-wheels at the axial centers of said cogwheels having handles,and means in connection with said cylinder and handles for limiting and governing the movements of said cylinder on said frame, whereby when the workmen are exerting theirpower on the handles in forcing the cylinder back and fort-h on the frame, no time or care will be required of said workmen in regulating the reciprocal movements, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of December, 1399.

JESSE D. LASSW'ELL.

Witnesses;

CHARLES H. PELL, C. B. PITNEY. 

